Madonna ProActive is Lincoln’s first medically based health, fitness and wellness facility. At Madonna ProActive, every member of the community can have access to medical, therapeutic, and educational fitness and wellness expertise, in addition to the latest research and technology. Regardless of age or ability, Madonna ProActive meets people where they are now and helps them to become the very best that they can be. Anthony Sobotka is an Exercise Specialist at Madonna ProActive.
Tell us a little about your work. – My main roles at ProActive are working as the lead Exercise Specialist for the Cardiac Rehab and Bariatric Programs, while also doing personal training with a wide variety of clients. Almost all of the clients that I work with have some sort of a medically based reason that prompted them to engage in improving their overall wellness.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – To me none of the personal accolades mean too much. It is the individuals that have come into one of the clubs or one of programs and were truly in trouble health wise! Whether it was being on countless medications, having had heart by-pass surgery, diabetes, newly diagnosed with MS or Parkinson’s, or facing severe orthopedic based issues from being overweight for so long, those journeys are what matter the most. I have been so lucky to watch and play large and small roles in some of the most astonishing turnarounds. It’s those stories and journeys that are the greatest!
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Learning how to handle my diverse schedule and being able to adjust to something so different from one hour to the next.
Tell us a little about your family. – I come from a family of three boys and I am the youngest. My parents raised us in a small town in northeast Nebraska and we grew up working with my father and on my grandparent’s and friend’s farms. I had a great set of parents that did such a good job raising us together but are also great people as individuals. I am also newly married to a wonderful woman I am fortunate enough to call my wife!
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Hunt or fish.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I have my pilot’s license.
What are you the most proud of? – That I have been able to find success in something that had a negative impact on me early in life. I struggled through a period of my younger years into my early teens where I was overweight and most would call “Chubby.” During those years I developed a lot of anxiety, fear, and intimidation when it came to exercising for sports, P.E., and conditioning. Some of those situations I went through and how they turned out still have an emotional impact on me to this day.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Take a couple days each month and force yourself to read, watch, listen or expose yourself to something or someone you know does not share your beliefs or viewpoints.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Reliable.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – “Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Contact Madonna ProActive at (402) 420-0000, visit www.madonna.org/proactive, or email me at asobotka@madonnaproactive.org.